Man threatens to 'blow up' plow drivers with loaded shotgun

The Middletown Police Department arrested a man they said threatened plow drivers with a loaded, double-barrel shotgun for putting snow on his property.

Police were sent to the Knoll Crest Condos on George Street around 3:40 p.m. Friday after a plow operator called them to tell them a man had exited a home and threatened him and his co-worker.

The driver said he was working to clear snow form the lots at the condo complex at 207 George St., which is across the street from the home located at 214 George St.

At that time, he said a city plow made a pass, and as that occurred, a man in his 60s exited holding a shotgun.

The driver said he waved the gun back and forth and eventually raised it above his head with one arm.

At that time, the driver said he left the area.

A second witness said he was clearing snow in the lot when he observed an older man yelling and screaming on the front porch. He said he believed the man wanted to talk to him so he began to walk towards him. As he got closer, he said that's when he noticed the man was holding a shotgun and said, "Tell that guy to put the snow on his property or I'm going to blow him up."

The witness told police he simply said "OK" and left the area.

Police were notified of what was taking place and they were able to get a listing for the person living at 214 George St. Over the phone police spoke with James Bankowski and he was asked if he had a confrontation with the people plowing and he said yes.

Police then asked if he would be willing to speak with them in person and he told them that he would love to. Police told Bankowski to meet police at the end of his driveway and he agreed to do so and did, without incident.

After speaking with Bankowski in person, he said he was watching the snow fall from his living room window and noticed the plow drivers pushing snow onto his property. He said that upset him, so he grabbed his 10 gauge, double-barrel shotgun and went outside with it in his hand and told the drivers, "Get the (expletive) snow off my yard. Get the (expletive) snow out of here."

Police asked Bankowski if the shotgun was loaded to which he replied "yes, but I never intended to shoot anyone, I just wanted to scare them enough to get my point across."

Bankowski was then arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, threatening and breach of peace.

He was held in jail on $50,000 bond and was expected to appear in court Wednesday.

A Facebook post from a local teacher that said the Florida shooting had her so on edge she was actually considering ending her 35-year career in education had us wondering how many other teachers are having that kind of internal crisis.

A Facebook post from a local teacher that said the Florida shooting had her so on edge she was actually considering ending her 35-year career in education had us wondering how many other teachers are having that kind of internal crisis.